Innovators in the News

7/30/12 - Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project Will Soon be Generating Power to the Grid

(Reprint from The Free Press, 7/26/12) - Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) held a dedication ceremony in Eastport on Tuesday, July 24, to celebrate its Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project, marking the first phase of the company's Maine Tidal Energy Project and the first commercial, grid-connected ocean energy project in the nation.

In February 2012, ORPC was issued a pilot project license for its Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In March, deployment began with installation of the bottom support frame for the first TidGen TGU at ORPC's site in Lubec near Seward Neck. By late summer, ORPC expects to have the TidGen Power System installed, and by October 1, the company will begin delivering electricity to the grid.

Established in 2004, ORPC is a privately held company specializing in tidal, river and deepwater ocean current power generation technology and projects. The Maine Tidal Energy Project is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Maine Technology Institute, as well as private investors.

Senator Snowe issued a statement Tuesday, saying, "Today's unveiling of the latest and largest iteration of the TidGen Power System - the first commercial-scale in-stream tidal device - represents a monumental achievement which is a testament to the collaboration and hard work of countless individuals whose unique areas of expertise have made today a reality. Not only has a visionary company joined with these agencies, but the entire community has rallied in support of this project. From the fishermen who helped identify areas for testing, to our friends across the border, this has been an extraordinary collaborative effort and partnership to utilize a regional resource in a manner that works for traditional industries."